Joey Molland, the iconic guitarist of the beloved band Badfinger, has passed away at the age of 77. The band confirmed the news on their official Facebook page, though the cause of death has not been disclosed. Molland had reportedly been battling pneumonia in recent months. The band paid tribute to him online, saying, “Thank you, Joey…for keeping the band’s music alive for so long and for being a friend to us all.”
Badfinger, formed in Swansea in 1961, was one of the first bands to be signed by The Beatles to their Apple Records label. They are remembered as pioneers in the power pop genre during the 60s and 70s, with over 14 million records sold in their career.
The most well-known lineup of the band included Pete Ham (guitar), Mike Gibbins (drums), Tom Evans (bass), and Joey Molland (guitar), who joined in 1970. Molland’s contributions played a significant role in the band’s most famous era. He recorded No Dice with the band in 1969, an album produced by Beatles road manager Mal Evans, which was heavily influenced by the legendary group.
The album featured iconic tracks like “No Matter What” and “Without You,” which climbed the charts and became two of the band’s most recognizable songs. Badfinger, often produced by George Harrison, went on to release hits like “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue.”
Fans of Breaking Bad will recognize “Baby Blue,” which was famously used in the final episode of the series. Following a lineup change in 1974, Molland became the band’s primary songwriter and vocalist, eventually forming Molland’s Badfinger, which remained active until recent years.
In addition to his work with Badfinger, Molland recorded solo music and was a member of the band Natural Gas. Throughout his career, he maintained close relationships with several Beatles members, even playing guitar on various John Lennon tracks and featuring on George Harrison’s 1970 album All Things Must Pass.
Molland was the last surviving member of the original Badfinger lineup. Pete Ham and Tom Evans tragically took their own lives in 1975 and 1984, respectively, and Mike Gibbins passed away from a brain aneurysm in 2005.
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